NPS avy gear census at Crystal Southback

I posted Monica's e-mail response to my request for her survey results on the Ski Patrol blog at:
www.blogcrystal.com/2010/03/articles/int...ger-monica/#comments

Is it just me, or isn't the most alarming fact, not that an NPS ranger is present, um, within or on the boundary of the lands managed by the NPS, but rather that, if I am reading Corey's post correctly, there were 946 people entering an uncontrolled area on a high avalanche danger day and only 30% had the most basic minimum required gear (b/s/p) for it? That's 662 people oblivious or with death wish.

I get the 946 number, which seems amazingly high, from this on the blogcrystal post referenced above by Corey:

"It's 946 total-from 1220-1600 (i was late due to lift lines i think it opened maybe 45 min earlier)
30% beacons/probes/shovels
20% beacons only
50% nothing, or just probes or shovels"

I posted Monica's e-mail response to my request for her survey results on the Ski Patrol blog at:
www.blogcrystal.com/2010/03/articles/int...ger-monica/#comments

Thanks, Corey,
I talked to Steve Klump today. He called in part to let me know that he had talked to Monica and his suspicions were confirmed... she was just doing a survey on her own that she thought might be useful for ski patrol and to satisfy her own curiosities. Sounds to me like their "stories" jibe, eh?

Steve also mentioned that he would be more than happy to facilitate a meeting with Superintendent Uberuaga as suggested by some of the folks in this thread. He did say that he thought it would be in the participant's best interest to first get together with him... reason being that it appeared to him from reading the thread that some of the folk's assumptions may be a bit flawed. He thought they might like to have all their facts crystal clear when the met with the Super. Again he said he encourages all to call with questions and concerns. His number again is 360-569-2211, x3304.

Ha Ha Ha!
Remember, NPS are the guys (and, against their wishes, now gals) who used to fling bonfires down Glacier Point in Yosemite and dynamite the Paradise Glacier to open the Ice Caves in MRNP. These people do whatever the hell they want, whenever they want, and how they want. Then they come up with "reasons" why. In the instant case: Why the survey? Because they can!
I've been threatened with a citation for failing to clean up accidentally spilled coffee grounds at Cascade Pass! Coffee Grounds! One cup's worth! On dirt! You just can't make these stories up! Regards to all.

Holy Cow, I hope I didn't give the wrong impression....I don't actually know exactly where Monica was standing, but it was somewhere around the entry to an area that regularly receives avalanche control via explosives and ski cutting, but remains "avalanche prone" because of the highly angulated terrain and possibility of pockets of remaining hazard that can pull-out.

Is it just me, or isn't the most alarming fact, not that an NPS ranger is present, um, within or on the boundary of the lands managed by the NPS, but rather that, if I am reading Corey's post correctly, there were 946 people entering an uncontrolled area on a high avalanche danger day and only 30% had the most basic minimum required gear (b/s/p) for it?  That's 662 people oblivious or with death wish.

I get the 946 number, which seems amazingly high, from this on the blogcrystal post referenced above by Corey:

"It's 946 total-from 1220-1600 (i was late due to lift lines i think it opened maybe 45 min earlier)
30% beacons/probes/shovels
20% beacons only
50% nothing, or just probes or shovels"

Actually just to keep facts straight. She was actually standing within the resort at the top of the Throne Saddle. The NPS rope is about 10' ft away at that point. From the saddle you then enter NPS land and traverse to get to the hike for the King or continue traverse to Sliver Basin. At a certain point you re-enter the resort on the traverse to Silver Basin. Additionally, both Avalanche Basin and Silver basin is NOT uncontrolled as you say but is in fact avy controlled by the Resort and is considered part of the resort and is advertised as such and is in fact highly publicized by Crystal as one of their gems.There are warning signs at each gate advising that you are entering a "avalanche  prone" area and suggesting you need a partner, shovel and probe but it is not mandatory( although highly advised IMHO). On high avy days, the patrol practice( from my experience) is to bomb the hell out of it and get it open for skier compaction ASAP. They usually  on high avy days after a big dump, position patrollers in strategic positions to watch the initial skiers make the first turns and then reposition after the place gets tracked out and therefore relatively safer.  I have regularly seen both Patrol members and Crystal mountain management  members skiing in the area without partners, backpack, shovel or probe although they may had beacons on under their clothes.
So before you get your panties twisted, get your facts straight.... research.